Washington, DC/Nashville, TN – Three groups of
minority state legislators have joined forces to
form a super minority caucus in order to improve
their effectiveness on issues of concern that
they share. The National Caucus of Native
American State Legislators, the National
Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) and
the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL)
formed this new, larger caucus at the Annual
Meeting of the National Conference of State
Legislatures last week. The new caucus will
focus on education, health, economic development
and immigration issues at the state and federal
levels.

“Legislators in these three caucuses represent
constituencies who face the same issues–inequities
in health care services, failing schools, high
drop out rates and few economic and employment
opportunities in our communities,” said New York
Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, who is president of
NHCSL. “By working together, we hope to send a
strong message to the federal government and to
corporate America that we will fight for our
families until all of our needs are met.”

State legislators who were already members of
these respective caucuses will automatically be
members of the new super minority caucus. There
are more than 600 members of the Black caucus,
more than 300 members of the Hispanic caucus and
56 members of the Native caucus. These three
entities will continue to operate separately, as
well as jointly.

Washington Representative John McCoy, who is
chair of the Native caucus, agrees that this
step will help bring minority issues to the
forefront. “In my opinion,” Representative McCoy
added, “it will be the rural areas that will get
the greatest benefit from the formation of this
super minority caucus, but inner-city residents
will definitely benefit as well.”

A formal agreement between the caucuses is
forthcoming, as certain details are still being
worked out.

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The National Hispanic Caucus of State
Legislators (NHCSL) is a nonpartisan
organization representing the interests of
Hispanic state legislators from all states,
commonwealths, and territories of the United
States. NHCSL is a catalyst for joint action on
issues of common concern to all segments of the
Hispanic community. For more information visit
www.nhcsl.org.